From The Huffington Post
Outrage Over $16 Muffin at Hotel Meeting Was Half Baked
The news this week that Justice Department had been caught allegedly spending $16 a piece for breakfast muffins and $8 for a cup of coffee for employees attending a conference in Washington two years ago was as stunning for its apparent extravagance as it was for the avalanche of criticism that quickly followed.

Within hours after media outlets pronounced word of the offense President Obama and Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew had ordered federal agencies to conduct a thorough review of how taxpayer dollars are being spent on conferences.

No one would disagree $16 for a muffin, if correct--and as it turned out, it wasn't-- is an outrageous sum to pay. But how is it that the Capital Hilton, where the conference in question took place, and dozens of hotels and conference facilities throughout the Washington area, and indeed across the country, didn't catch at least some of the flak for the prices they charge?

The fact of the matter is, the prices Washington area hotels charge for food and beverages have always been higher than seemed reasonable. Click here for the full story.